164. The
Model Village, Long Itchington, Warwickshire Fitted to the first two
columns of this short cul-de-sac are AC Ford AC888 lanterns, possibly still
running 80 W MBF lamps. The columns are of the Stanton 10 square-based concrete
type, with top-entry 'F'-type brackets. In a strange coincidence, these
installations were captured towards the end of July 2015; the same time as when
AC Ford announced that it would be cutting its final ¾′′ BSP threads and wiring up its final AC888
lanterns, owing to the retirement of its owner, the always affable and
accommodating Mr Brian Wilde. Well, that was at least the plan; a further
announcement on the company's website later revealed that a buyer had been
found, and that Brian would continue to provide assistance until such times as
"he was no longer required" - a rather sad comment, I feel! (We love
you, Brian!)

The polycarbonate lantern bowl
shows noticeable signs of discolouration, as a result of years
of UV degradation from both the sun and the lamp.

The second example was in
near-identical condition to the first.

The locknut of a
Royce Thompson ER12HN miniature
photocell can be glimpsed towards the rear of the lantern.

This example's bowl was slightly
less discoloured than the first example's was.